The KITE Research Institute

09/24/2026

A clinical assessment tool developed at UHN helped motivate Melissa Charpentier through a “very long and slow” recovery.

Melissa lives with spinal cord injury and partial paralysis, sustained in a 2013 car accident. Early in her recovery, typical tasks — from eating and personal care to independently repositioning her body — were a challenge.

Graded Redefined Assessment of Strength, Sensibility and Prehension (GRASSP) is a tool that measures hand and arm function in people living with tetraplegia, a form of paralysis that affects all four limbs and the torso following damage to the cervical (neck) spinal cord. It was created by Dr. Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan, a clinician-scientist at UHN’s KITE Research Institute.

Using real-life tasks, such as inserting a key into a lock, GRASSP helps measure incremental strength, sensation and grasping abilities in patients, like Melissa, who are recovering from spinal cord injuries.

For Melissa, who took part in a research study involving the tool at UHN’s Toronto Rehab Lyndhurst Centre, GRASSP was a positive experience compared to existing tests.

“It's a little more encouraging because, even if you're not completing the task, it gives you a breakdown of the task elements that you are able to accomplish, providing a more positive outlook," she said.

Read the full story at

At UHN, we strive to deliver Compassionate Care & Caring. Learn more about the services and supports that are available to you throughout your journey.

09/21/2026

At UHN’s KITE Research Institute, breakthroughs happen when different perspectives come together.⁠
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Researchers collaborate with clinicians, engineers, occupational therapists, computer scientists, patients, advocates, and community partners to solve complex challenges in rehabilitation.⁠
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It's this culture of collaboration—and a shared commitment to helping others—that has defined KITE for 25 years.⁠
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Read the full article in our bio.

08/03/2026

Inside UHN’s KITE Research Institute’s simulation laboratories is where ideas meet real life.

Across DriverLab, StairLab, WinterLab, and emerging technologies like AI and virtual reality, KITE researchers are testing solutions in environments that closely reflect real-world conditions.

Here, the goal isn't innovation for innovation's sake—it's developing solutions that help people live safer, healthier, and more independent lives.

Read the full article in bio.

07/28/2026

Did you know that changes in sleep and daily activity can provide important clues about dementia?

KITE researchers found that data from wearable real-time location systems can help identify changes in movement and sleep patterns, giving clinicians new insights into residents' wellbeing and supporting more personalized dementia care.

By uncovering these digital markers, this research could help detect emerging issues earlier and improve care for people living with dementia.

Read more here: https://www.uhnresearch.ca/news/3-10-2026/digital-clues-in-dementia-care

07/08/2026

Too many wheelchairs are damaged during airline travel. Dr. Tilak Dutta, a senior scientist at UHN's KITE Research Institute, shares his work on this issue through the Accessible Air Travel project.

Find more videos with insights from people with lived experience, leaders and others at www.engineeringhealth.ca/airtravel/

07/07/2026

In 2001, UHN’s KITE Research Institute launched with the goal to strengthen the impact of Rehabilitation Science in Canada.

Today:
• ~130 investigators
• 300+ trainees
• Nearly 200 staff
• More than 600 studies annually
• Ranked the world's #1 rehabilitation science institute

While much has changed over the past 25 years, one thing hasn't: our commitment to research that creates meaningful change for patients, families, and communities.

Read the full article in bio.

06/30/2026

The people most affected by research should have a voice in shaping it.⁠
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That principle is at the centre of a new toolkit co-developed by Dr. Jennifer Bethell, a scientist at UHN’s KITE Research Institute, and the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC).⁠
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Rather than developing solutions for long-term care residents, the project was developed with them, incorporating their perspectives, experiences, and priorities throughout the process.⁠
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The result is a practical resource that helps long-term care homes embed resident voices into decision-making and create more responsive, person-centred environments.⁠
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Read more and access the toolkit: https://www.kite-uhn.com/news/long-term-care-toolkit

06/30/2026

Everyday tasks like crossing a busy street require more than just balance. They also depend on attention, memory, and the ability to multitask.⁠
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New research from KITE Research Institute found that cognitive training may help improve balance and cognitive function in older adults, potentially reducing fall risk. The study also found that these benefits may be more limited for individuals with more severe hearing loss, highlighting the important connection between hearing, cognition, and mobility.⁠
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Read the full story: https://kite-uhn.com/news/hearing-balance-and-research

06/29/2026

Did you know that hearing loss can affect balance?

Hearing loss is also common in older adults and has been linked to cognitive decline and a higher risk of falls, making everyday multitasking - like crossing a busy street - more challenging.

KITE researcher Dr. Niroshica Mohanathas and KITE Senior Scientist Dr. Jennifer Campos led a study looking at whether cognitive training can help improve balance and cognition in older adults. They found that for people with hearing loss that wasn't severe, it helped.

Read more at: https://www.uhnresearch.ca/news/6-23-2026/hearing-balance-and-thinking

06/26/2026

As another academic year comes to a close, we're reflecting on the people who help shape the future of rehabilitation research.

At KITE, supporting students and early-career researchers is a key part of our mission. Programs and events like SOAR create opportunities to share knowledge, build skills and connect with peers and mentors across disciplines.

Hear from some of the trainees who participated in SOAR and learn what the experience meant to them.